Revry, the first global LGBTQ+ streaming service, announced a new original program at the 2023 IAB Newfronts, called Pride Ball. Pride Ball is a vigorous ballroom competition where teams, known as "Houses," are pitted against each other in a series of themed categories that incorporate dance and fashion with athletic styles such as acrobatics and gymnastics. Ballroom competition is deeply entwined into the history and culture of the queer community and Revry was ready to bring it to TV.
This groundbreaking evolution in sports entertainment was sponsored by Nike–the renowned sportswear brand that supports those who defy boundaries and redefine possibility by staying true to themselves. Co-sponsor göt2b–a leading bold color and hairstyling brand from Henkel–brought its innovative products into the competition so the individuals can embrace their unique style, encourage self-expression, and ignite confidence.
Featuring 8 categories, celebrity judges, special guests, and cash prizes–this ball was not to be missed!
The categories were unique authentic to the ballroom and LGBTQ+ community:
OTA Performance - Represent your vogue division in sickening vogue fem effect in a Metallics color...and may the best HUE win
FQ Realness – "Femme Queen from the Future" – Your realness is out of this world unstoppable, unclockable, and unmatched.
OTA Runway – "Radiant ReflectionsPride Showdown" – Let's see you pump the runway serving a rainbow effect.
Klub Kid Face – "göt2b KLUB" – The return of Klub Kid Face on the West Coast–but this time it's a Metallics affair. We want to see you painted for the GODS in Metallics colors while serving your KLUB KID OUTRAGEOUSNESS
OTA Full Figured and Proud Genders– "Radical Visibility” - Show the world your UNIQUENESS, your THICKNESS, and your BOLDNESS. Show off your five elements of Vogue Fem, Cat Walks, Duck Walks, Sins, and Dips. Celebrate your luscious curves in bright, bold, and colorful effects honoring the legacy of vogue fem.
Old Way – "Just Do it Like She Did'' – Pop, Lock, Spin, and Dip in honor of your favorite vogue icon. Pay homage to HER by printing her name on a white t-shirt while slaying the old way, and be sure to showcase your own rising star moment by adding a modern flair. Don’t forget to bring your vintage Nike sportswear.
OTA Best Dressed – "The Undisputed Fashionista" - Make History or Herstory on this day, dressed to impress from your head to toe. No gender, just fashion. Knock them done and snatch the crown as the Undisputed fashionista.
Tag Team Virgin, Beginners Vogue – “Ying Yang Yasssss” – Bring us two performers – voguing under two years – in an effect that serves opposites...but the same. Bring in-sync tag team style to get your tens and battle it out for the prize.
The Pride Ball was presented at the 2023 IAB Newfronts on May 3rd. It filmed June 11, 2023 with 700+ people in attendance at Neuehouse Los Angeles. The show premiered on June 18, 2023 on Revry across all its free ad supported TV channels and as ad-supported video on demand.
The concept from the beginning was to bring a uniquely queer cultural moment in its most authentic form to TV. Pride Ball was hosted by the iconic Isla Ebony and Deshaun Wesley (HBO Max Legendary) and ballroom luminaries Precious Basquiat and Jack Mizrahi (HBO Max Legendary).
Pride Ball, featured hundreds of fierce competitors, seven iconic judges, and ten high-stakes categories! This queer sport event featured the most famous “Houses” battling it out with amazing performances.
Being the only LGBTQ+ TV network, it is our purpose to inspire exploration of the authentic voices from the community for the social and economic beneft of the community, So we knew It had to be spot live to preserve the feel and experience of a ball. It had to be a part of the community and not exploiting the community.
The ballroom competition show was Revry’s most-watched original programming with the June 18th premiere having the most minutes watched of any program in 2023 - 3x the average. Over 1.1M+ people tuned in to watch Pride Ball streaming in their living room on Revry on Samsung TV Plus, Vizio WatchFree+, Roku Channel, Plex, Freevee and many more platforms.
Revry's Pride Ball was ranked #1 for total social interactions of all LGBTQ+ programming in streaming across its platforms.
Daily viewership of Pride Ball was 20% above average for all other programming during the same time period. Revry’s free ad supported TV channels had all had their highest airings since the premiere.
The community responded on Instagram and Tiktok with an outpouring of love and support for the show, the brands and Revry.
